Now we’re in the midst of spring, you’ve probably looked on in envy at all the convertible drivers cruising around with their top down, wind in their hair, sun on their skin, tunes blasting out.

When the clouds clear and temperatures rise, having the option to ditch the roof is a truly liberating and infectious feeling.

Mercedes SLC 180

With the Mazda MX-5 selling so well, Mercedes-Benz is keen to cut itself a piece of the affordable convertible pie, hence this: the new entry-level SLC 180 – a price-conscious but premium-badged roadster.

Priced at £32,039 on-the-road, the SLC 180 AMG Line is hardly pocket money fodder, but it does make the prospect of a Mercedes-Benz roadster more accessible than ever before.

Under the bonnet is a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine pumping out 143bhp and up to 250Nm of torque.

That’s enough to get up to 62mph from the lights in 7.9 seconds, with speed topping out at 140mph. The car comes as standard with a six-speed manual transmission, but buyers can have a nine-speed auto for an extra £1,600.

Running the SLC 180 won’t cripple your bank balance either, with CO2 emissions of 134g/km and up to 48.7mpg combined making it narrowly more efficient that the current 1.5-litre MX-5.